Adrien Leroy eBook

Jasper Vermont had also left Barminster, but had sent
a note in which be stated that he was working in his
friend’s interest, and hoped to unearth the
mystery of the conspiracy. This sounded plausible
and meant nothing—­which was thoroughly
characteristic of Mr. Vermont.

The cases at the Central Criminal Court were fortunately
light ones, and did not take long to settle, so that
the interval between the acceptance of bail and the
date of the trial was a short one. There was,
of course, great excitement in the fashionable world
over Adrien’s sensational arrest, but this the
young man wisely ignored; taking refuge at Barminster
Castle from the curiosity and sympathy of friends and
reporters alike, and resolutely refusing to be interviewed.

One thing—­so characteristic of him—­Adrien
did at once. Notwithstanding his own cares, he
remembered his promise to Ada Lester at the ball, and
instructed the solicitors to prepare a deed by which
the money and the rights of the Casket Theatre should
be made over to her, and settled on her at once; at
the same time, ordering that the papers should be handed
to her personally, thus providing against any mistakes
or interference on the part of Jasper.

This kindly thought completely turned the scale of
Ada’s gratitude in his favour. Rejoicing
at the blow which she knew this would be to Mr. Vermont,
and in ignorance of his last treachery to Adrien, she
determined to show him up in his true colours at the
first opportunity.

Meanwhile, as the day of the trial approached, Lord
Barminster and Mortimer Shelton became more and more
anxious.

The solicitors had briefed the finest and best known
barristers for the defence; but one and all agreed
that unless Adrien could prove an alibi, only a miracle
could save him from conviction.

On the actual day Adrien Leroy took his place in the
dock, listening through the day with unwearied calm
to the long speeches made by the counsel on both sides.

Witness after witness was called; but none could shake
the evidence of Harker’s clerk, who swore to
seeing Leroy actually sign the bill in question, on
the twenty-second of the preceding month.

Towards the end of the case, when both judge, jury
and counsel were tired out by the conflicting statements,
a note was sent to the barrister for the defence by
a veiled lady, who had sat in the back of the court
during the whole day’s proceedings.

He opened it carelessly, but after a swift glance
at the few lines which it contained, his face brightened.
Resuming his usual confident tones, he desired that
a new witness might be called, namely Lady Merivale.

At the name Adrien started forward, but it was too
late. A lady in black, pale but composed, entered
the witness box, and was duly sworn. Calmly she
gave her evidence, stating that she had visited her
aunt, Lady Rose Challoner, at Hampton Court on the
twenty-second of the previous month, and while there
had met Mr. Adrien Leroy. He had rowed her up
the river, and as an additional witness she could produce
one of the boatmen to whom she had spoken while at
Hampton, and who had watched them start.